Michigan Football: 5 Reasons Jim Harbaugh isn’t going anywhere

2. COVID-19 and a financial strain

Obviously, this pandemic has impacted daily life for everyone and in college sports, it has had a major financial impact. As far as Michigan is concerned, it likely delayed an extension of Jim Harbaugh’s contract who has repeatedly said he has bigger fish to fry.

There have been rumors than an extension was basically done and that the parties would agree to it before next season when Harbaugh would be a lame-duck coach. There have even been whispers of an extension talked about with recruits.

So, it still appears as though Michigan is closer to extending Harbaugh than firing him. That’s where things are right now and the other thing is that as Manuel said this fall, the athletic program is in real trouble with its budget.

Getting football back has probably helped with some of that, but the Wolverines still aren’t selling out the Big House and that’s a lot of revenue they are missing out on.

It might not be a popular sentiment, but paying a buyout to Harbaugh and chasing another coach who will require a hefty about of money seems unlikely at this point.